Research Planning & Management
Research is the core function that differentiates academic medicine from community medicine – it drives innovation, quality, and technology while defining cutting-edge practices. As AMCs consider strategy, organization, and initiatives related to the academic enterprise, it is essential to integrate research strategy with organizational initiatives and ensure that the academic enterprise is structured appropriately to achieve the institutional strategies.
Over the past decade, numerous AMCs have invested heavily in research staffing, facilities, and administrative infrastructure. However, in recent years, a confluence has occurred of reductions in federally funded research, the implementation of the NIH road map, and an increase in regulation and strict compliance scrutiny. These developments are causing AMCs to question the viability of their existing and planned research activities and the extent to which research is supporting broader institutional clinical and educational strategies. For most institutions, developing a robust, translational research enterprise that supports quality outcomes has become of paramount importance.
ECG has the critical expertise required to assist AMCs in addressing research-related issues, including:
- Strategic planning of the research enterprise.
- Alignment and integration of research with educational and clinical practice.
- Appropriate research organizational structure.
- Efficacy of research administration.
- Regulatory compliance related to billing and human and animal research.
- Operations improvement of clinical trials billing, Institutional Review Board (IRB), and other research administration functions.
- Appropriate funds flows development to foster a robust research enterprise.
- Facilities and administration rate development and negotiation.
- Contract negotiation sponsorship.
In working with academic healthcare clients for more than 35 years, ECG has helped optimize research within numerous AMCs, resulting in increased research productivity and lower operating costs.
Selected Projects
Reviewing clinical trials management and assessing clinical trials billing for a major AMC. Expand Minimize
In this engagement, ECG reviewed financial management practices related to clinical trials for a major AMC. The review included an overview of processes employed by various research administration functions, in addition to an in-depth examination of the professional and technical fee billing related to clinical trials in four high-volume departments.
Developing a translational and clinical research strategic plan for a four-hospital health system. Expand Minimize
ECG assisted a large health system in the development of a strategic plan for its clinical research enterprise. The plan primarily addressed the development of bench-to-bedside research capabilities focused on cancer services and metabolic disease. Strategies encompassed the following: (1) development of dedicated wet lab and clinical research space integrated with clinical space for oncology, as well as clinical research space integrated with clinical space for metabolic disease; (2) pursuit of an innovative focus on translational and clinical research related to cancer services (genomics and proteomics); (3) recruitment of research faculty for both areas of focus; (4) establishment of significant partnerships with universities, public/private entities, and industry to drive translational and clinical research activities; and (5) significant growth of research for employed faculty balanced with research of private physicians occurring within the health system. Our work resulted in a doubling of the research enterprise within 1 year.
Developing a research strategy and investment mechanism for a large AMC. Expand Minimize
ECG assisted a large, university-based AMC with the creation of a comprehensive strategy and investment mechanism for the research enterprise. Our project resulted in the development of specific and focused strategies supported by an investment methodology that fosters critical goals, including growth in the research enterprise, funding of key medical center initiatives, interdisciplinary collaboration, focus on translational research, and appropriate administrative support of research activities. Objectives of the engagement also included equitable investment among the SOM, school of public health, teaching hospital, and faculty practice plan; enhanced accountability for research productivity; and improved integration of research planning and funds flows with the educational and clinical missions of the organization.
Assisting a medical school with a review of the office of scientific affairs and interim management of the office of research administration. Expand Minimize
ECG assisted this medical school in reviewing the organization and operations of its office of scientific affairs. The project focused on the research administration division and its role in compliance with federal and other sponsor regulations, including human subject research protections. In addition, ECG provided interim management of the new office of research administration, created as a result of our office of scientific affairs review. This project focused on the implementation of our recommendations regarding the office’s organization and operations.
Conducting research facilities planning for an SOM. Expand Minimize
We assisted an SOM in assessing the need for expansion of its research facilities based on current activity, operational plans for growth, and strategic initiatives. Over the course of this engagement, ECG analyzed and validated departmental data related to research funding, investigator counts, research personnel staffing levels, and the allocation of space. In addition, we interviewed department chairs and research center directors to acquire an understanding of the adequacy of current facilities, as well as plans for additional research faculty and other personnel. Our project included benchmarking levels of funding and space allocation against those of peer institutions and developing a model to aggregate data related to research funding, investigator counts, and space allocation; incorporating anticipated growth plans; and determining future research facility needs. Further, ECG demonstrated that current research facilities were fully utilized and documented the need for closer alignment of operational growth plans with strategic initiatives. The engagement resulted in a rationale for the expansion of research facilities in support of the SOM’s strategic plan.
Reviewing research administration and infrastructure at a clinical trials-intensive teaching hospital. Expand Minimize
ECG conducted a review of research administration and infrastructure at a teaching hospital, in order to ensure that management processes provided adequate controls. Major tasks involved: (1) assessment of practices related to the management of overall research activities, including those activities carried out by affiliated institutions; (2) identification of and improvements to policies and procedures that would enhance management effectiveness; and (3) observation and assessment of procedures employed in the management of clinical research, including activities of the IRB, patient enrollment, and billing. The engagement resulted in recommendations for a revised organizational structure, the addition of personnel responsible for compliance oversight, revised policies and procedures, revised billing practices, and the development of a mechanism to effectively manage serious adverse events.
